colure

[ kuh-loor, koh-, koh-loor ]

noun

, Astronomy.

1. either of two great circles of the celestial sphere intersecting each other at the poles, one passing through both equinoxes and the other through both solstices.

colure

/ kəˈlʊə; ˈkəʊlʊə /

noun

1. either of two great circles on the celestial sphere, one of which passes through the celestial poles and the equinoxes and the other through the poles and the solstices

Word History and Origins

Origin of colure¹

1540–50; < Late Latin colūrus < Greek kólouros dock-tailed, equivalent to kól ( os ) docked + -ouros -tailed, adj. derivative of ourá tail; so called because the lower part is permanently hidden beneath the horizon

Word History and Origins

Origin of colure¹

C16: from Late Latin colūrī (plural), from Greek kolourai cut short, dock-tailed, from kolos docked + oura tail; so called because the view of the lower part is curtailed

Example Sentences

For some reason, the equator, the colure, the zenith and the poles were all marked out by these serpentine or draconic forms.

From Project Gutenberg

The western star, in the head of Andromeda, lies in the equinoctial colure.

From Project Gutenberg

The solstitial colure is the meridian which passes through the solstitial points.

From Project Gutenberg

The equinoctial colure is the meridian which passes through the equinoctial points.

From Project Gutenberg

Note the star μ, which serves to point out the Winter Solstice, where the solstitial colure intersects the ecliptic.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ring
• sphere